Standing their ground

Jacob Oram was the only shining light for New Zealand at the Gabba © Getty Images

The purposeful striding of New Zealand over the first two days of the Trans-Tasman series has quickly developed painful limps. While walking remained the main issue during the four days between Tests, the Black Caps must quickly discover a way of standing tall against a team that they must worry can beat them from any position.

John Bracewell, the coach, honestly reflected that they were "beaten up" at Brisbane, but he has dismissed suggestions of mental bruising. Another touring team is under intense pressure after only a week and attacks and suggestions are arriving from all directions. The capitulation for 76 on the fourth day was so quick that Greg Chappell offered his services to his former foes for free.

Chappell believes the top six are "sitting ducks" if they again employ a defensive mentality. But Bracewell insists crease occupation is the best way of wearing down the Australians and it is a plan that suits the Adelaide pitch. He knows his players are unlikely to win a shoot-out against their opponents, who have not seen Hayden, Langer or Ponting fire since before the India series.

The only outright success for the Black Caps at the Gabba was Jacob Oram, whose hundred rescued the first-innings and may earn a promotion. It will have been an interesting selection meeting, which has been the norm since the disruptive tour of England during the winter. Craig McMillan again finds himself at the top of the list for replacing. A late call-up for the tour, McMillan earned a walk-on role in the first Test and found himself in the middle of a storming argument with Adam Gilchrist on walking. The story has run longer than the Test match, where he failed in both innings.

New Zealand will consider weakening their already brittle batting by adding another bowler and could move Oram and Brendon McCullum, who also made a valuable contribution with the bat, up a place to Nos. 6 and 7. A spark of good news has come with the expected return of James Franklin, the left-arm fast bowler who pulled out on the eve of the Gabba Test with a groin injury, while the offspinner Paul Wiseman was picked on the tour specifically for this match. Kyle Mills, chosen for his windows of swinging opportunity, could join McMillan.

In winning the first Test by an innings and 156 runs, Australia have already retained the two-match series and named an unchanged 12-man squad. While there were whispers of playing five bowlers, the move is unlikely after the relatively easy Gabba workout. The first-innings performance of Michael Kasprowicz means Brett Lee should have to readjust his goal to a potential speed blitz with Shoaib Akhtar in the first Test at the Waca on December 16.

While the tail-end partnership of McGrath and Gillespie and the debut home hundred of Michael Clarke were superb, they overshadowed a fine century from Gilchrist, who was then attacked for his walking "crusade". Gilchrist has been protected and counselled by his team-mates, who support his tactic but are happy to stand their ground, and will look forward to the relative calm of the field.

The teams have played only twice at Adelaide. Ian Chappell's side won by an innings and 57 runs in 1973-74 while in 1987-88 Martin Crowe and Andrew Jones scored centuries and Allan Border collected a double as they shared a draw. New Zealand will happily settle for that result this time, but Australia will aim to walk off with the Trans-Tasman trophy celebrating a clean sweep.

Australia 1 Justin Langer, 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Darren Lehmann, 6 Michael Clarke, 7 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 8 Shane Warne, 9 Jason Gillespie, 10 Michael Kasprowicz, 11 Glenn McGrath, 12 Brett Lee.

New Zealand 1 Mark Richardson, 2 Mathew Sinclair, 3 Stephen Fleming (capt), 4. Scott Styris, 5. Nathan Astle, 6. Jacob Oram, 7. Brendon McCullum (wk), 8. Daniel Vettori, 9. James Franklin, 10 Paul Wiseman, 11 Chris Martin.

Peter English is Australasian editor of Wisden Cricinfo